Money in poetry

[Doreen Peri]

I'll give you a quarter for a haiku,
a dollar for a sonnet, and if you want it,
I'll pay a fin for you to begin speaking
poetry aloud, freestyle! Make it up as
you go along. You can't go wrong with
this type of deal. Who says there's no
real money in poetry? Here's a twenty
right here and I wrote poetry in ink
all around the edges of it. Plus, just
read this. There's money in it. See?
Words are free but poetry could be
worth selling your soul for. It's a hell
of a thing. Be a little devilish for a change,
would ya? Aha! Look. There's even
change in this one. Buddy, can you spare
a verse? Do you dare? Of course you do,
you evil daring stanza writer, you!

[WIREMAN]

very interesting topic indeed...after all them years of doin poetry shows for bagels, coffee, and beer i finally got this payin gig at nola when a friend, no names mentioned, asked me about poetry shows in frederick ...well to make a long story short the feds turned me into an independent contractor and ive been audited the last 2 years ugh....on top of that i get a 1099 and have to put it on top of my regular job earnings...ugh....after i get done paying the piano player and buying dinner im making just about zip zero zilch.....thats life as a poet in the good old usa....aint it grand

[the mingo]

Independent contractor ? for poetry ? that's just some kind of double fucked up sideways - it's the legal criminals need watching - I don't know why I am surprised at any of this -

[Doreen Peri]

In the US, you are supposed to report every penny you make. Of course performing poetry if you're getting paid for it needs to be reported. It's entertainment and it's paid work. If you can get the club to pay you cash (under the table), that would be nice, but it's illegal for them to do that which is why they 1099'd you.

Glad you liked my funny poem.

That will be two dollah. Thank you!

[Doreen Peri]

Oh... also.... I think it's great you got paying gigs! Most poets don't get paid to read. So, congrats on that!

PS... we got paid for one of the Cabaradios from proceeds from ticket sales, but by the time I paid the band and all the performers (something like $10 each... haha... that's all we made)... there was nothing left. Still, I had to report the check we received as income, then took deductions for business expenses. One of the business expenses was paying for the theater. We had to pay to play. It wasn't cheap, either.

[Doreen Peri]

Taxes suck.

BUT... think of it this way... as a paid poet, you are a professional poet. AND you can write off your clothes, your drinks, your transportation, your food, your instruments, and if you bought insurance on your voice, you could write that off, too. Hah! You could end up paying no taxes at all if you write enough things off. Isn't America wonderful?

[Arcadia]

end of the month: the idea of money is almost esoteric ... not enough energy even to talk about it ... enjoyed reading your poems, Doreen!!!!!!